This past weekend Chief Jason Louie of The Lower Kootenay Yaqan Nukiy Band was honored to host Chief Clarence Louie and his delegation from the Osoyoos Indian Band.
Clarence Louie has been the Chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band for over 30 years and is passionate about the economic development opportunities for The Osoyoos Indian Band. “It’s rare but it’s good to see bands doing business off the reserve. It’s what needs to happen in the future for more bands. More and more it’s happening across the country”
The Osoyoos Indian Band has grown exponentially over the last 30 years, providing Osoyoos with agricultural, commercial and industrial leases on reserve land. “There is even a provincial prison leased on reserve land which provides jobs for band members and non-native people in the surrounding area. We have many non-natives currently working and living on reserve land. They are leasing and building million dollar homes.” says Chief Clarence Louie.
The Osoyoos band have diversified their business portfolio to include wineries, golf courses, gas stations and resorts. Their full business portfolio can be found on the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation website www.oibdc.ca.
“Once I heard that the Yaqan Nukiy band had purchased Ainsworth Hot Springs I had to meet with Chief Jason Louie and visit Ainsworth. It’s important for our leaders to sit down and share our story and knowledge so we can help each other expand our economic development for our people.” said the Chief of the Osoyoos band.
Two years ago the Yaqan Nukiy band purchased Ainsworth Hotsprings from an elderly couple who were looking to retire.
“It was a matter of being at the right place at the right time,” said Chief Jason Louie. “It was hard work but it was worth it. Our goal is to bring an indigenous brand to Ainsworth Hotsprings, in particular, a Yaqan Nukiy presence, to assert our sovereignty in our part of the territory. We want to provide the guests a different and unique experience that you can’t get anywhere else,” said Chief Jason Louie. “In the next few days, there will be informal talks around various topics, a visit to Ainsworth Hotsprings and a traditional hunt here in Creston, on Yaqan Nukiy lands. Having Chief Clarence Louie visit us is huge. In the First Nations political world, Chief Clarence is respected and well known. His name and work speak for itself. He has been doing this for a long time and has been very successful.”
Chief Clarence Louie is a firm believer that First Nations people need to focus on becoming a part of the greater economy. “Once you start creating jobs and making your own money you can do a heck of a lot more things. Before the reserve system, our people did business with only each other. Now we have the chance to do business across Canada with everyone. That’s what I like to see. That’s why I’m here.”
Chief Clarence Louie has a bumper sticker on his truck that he purchased from retired First Nation hockey player Gino Odjick that reads “Native people have always worked for a living.” He smiles when people point to the bumper sticker. Proudly mentioning, “It’s true we have.”